Great Britain

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland is a constitutional monarchy comprising most of
the British Isles.

The Union
comprises four constituent nations: England,
Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It occupies all
of the island of Great
Britain, the north-eastern portion of the island of Ireland
and most of the remaining British Isles. It is
important to remember that the Republic
of Ireland is a completely separate
country to the United Kingdom,
seceding from the Union and gaining its
independence in 1922. The Isle of Man and the various Channel
Islands are "crown dependencies", possessing their own
legislative bodies with the assent of the Crown. They are not part of the United Kingdom,
nor of the EU, but are not sovereign nations in their own right either. The UK has Ireland,
France, Belgium and Netherlands as its nearest
neighbors.

The 'Great'
in Great Britain
(Grande-Bretagne in French) is to distinguish it from the other, smaller "Britain": Brittany
(Bretagne) in northwestern France.

The UK
today is a diverse patchwork of native and immigrant cultures, possessing a
fascinating history and dynamic modern culture, both of which remain hugely
influential in the wider world. Although Britannia no longer rules the waves,
the UK
is still a popular destination for many travelers. The capital and largest city
of the United Kingdom is London.

The UK has a benign humid-temperate climate
moderated by the North Atlantic current and
the country's proximity to the sea. Warm, damp summers and mild winters provide
temperatures pleasant enough to engage in outdoor activities all year round.
Having said that, the weather in the UK can be changeable and conditions
are often windy and wet. British rain is world renowned, but in practice it
rarely rains more than two or three hours at a time and often parts of the
country stay dry for many weeks at a time, especially in the East. More common
are overcast or partly cloudy skies. It is an idea to be prepared for a change
of weather when going out; a jumper and a raincoat usually suffice when it is
not winter.

The United Kingdom
is a popular travel destination where visitors can explore places rich with
history, enjoy friendly hospitality, and experience the spectacular scenery of
some of the world's most stunning landscapes. UK tours are available to the rugged
coastlines, the emerald plains, the craggy high peaks, and beyond.

At the very heart of the UK is England. Some would say England is the "crown jewel" of the UK, and it is in fact the centre of most of the UK's best known
destinations. UK tours take
in royal castles dating back centuries, can explore the charming villages where
craftsmen still practice their traditional trades, or take you to the bustling
nightlife of exciting cities like London.

London has been home of many famous
Englishmen. Some were born there. Some lived there all their lives. Others
lived in London
only for a short time but all gave something to this great city.

One of the first names of importance is that
of Geoffrey Chaucer, the poet. He lived most of his life in London. He knew the courts of King Richard II
d King Henry IV. His most famous work, 'The Canterbury Tales", opens at
the Tabard Inn, in Southwark. Chaucer held official posts in London and is buried in Westminster Abbey.

William Shakespeare also lived in London. He lived there for
more than twenty years. He acted at the Globe Theatre and wrote his plays in London. But London's famous men are
not only writers. Sir Christopher Wren, the architect, spent most of his life
in London. He
designed many beautiful churches, including St. Paul's Cathedral. He also designed
palaces and fine houses.

Music is represented by a very interesting
figure. This is George Frederick Handel. He came to London
from Hannover in 1710. He lived for a time at
Burlington House, Piccadilly, now the Royal Academy.
After some success and some failure he at last became famous. This happened
when he composed "The Messiah". "Judas Maccabeus". and 'The
Music for the Royal Fireworks". Like Chaucer and many other great artists,
Handel is buried in Westminster Abbey.

Another famous London
figure is one of England's
greatest seamen. Admiral Lord Nelson. He has a very special memorial in Trafalgar Square.
The monument consists of a very tall column. On top of it stands a figure of
Nelson. It is called the Nelson Column. Equally famous is the general who led
the army at the battle of Waterloo
in 1815. This was the Duke of Wellington. His house stands at Hyde Park Comer.
It is sometimes known as Number One, London.
Like Admiral Nelson, the Duke of Wellington is buried in St. Paul's Cathedral.